Simple Steps Protect You from Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
The Tennessee Department of Health has now confirmed 19 human cases of West Nile Virus infection and 11 cases of La Crosse Virus infection in the state so far in 2017. Mosquito-borne illness is more common during late summer and TDH recommends taking simple steps to avoid mosquito bites and help prevent mosquito-borne illnesses. ‘’We […]
More than Pumpkins to Pick on Local Farms This Fall
A trip to the pumpkin patch has become standard fare for autumn loving locals, and this year it’s worth looking around for more than great gourds. Many farmers are expanding options for consumers to learn how and where food and home goods are grown or made. Bountiful Acres Farm near Watertown produces a wide range […]
Making the Most of the Fall Season
Fall is just around the corner here in East Tennessee. We have changing leaves, cooler temperatures, and pumpkin flavored everything to look forward to. If you are looking for something to do over the coming weeks and want to make the most of your fall, there are several ideas to make the most of the […]
New Study: Shifting School Start Times Could Contribute $83 Billion to US Economy Within a Decade
The RAND Corporation and RAND Europe have released the first-ever, state-by-state analysis (in 47 states) of the economic implications of a shift in school start times in the U.S., showing that a nationwide move to 8.30 a.m. could contribute $83 billion to the U.S. economy within a decade. Even after just two years, the study […]
Happy Labor Day 2017
Many Americans will spend the last long weekend of summer saying goodbye to warm weather and care free days. The Labor Day holiday is Monday September 4th, 2017, and is often seen as the unofficial end of summer. Labor Day wasn’t always about celebrating the last of summer, though. In, fact the holiday became both […]
Bassmaster Northern Open On Douglas Lake Draws 250 Anglers From 29 States In Early Count
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. — Dropping water levels will make it difficult to pattern Douglas Lake bass in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open season finale. “The lake is actually still high for this time of year,” Bassmaster Elite Series pro David Mullins said of his home waters. Mullins notes the lake has already started its […]
National Park Service Releases Review of Chimney Tops 2 Fire
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke issued an independent review of the Chimney Tops 2 Fire that burned 11,410 acres in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in November 2016 and merged with other area fires, which caused 14 deaths and millions of dollars in damage in the Gatlinburg area. The report outlines the origins […]
Tennessee Teams Deploy to Texas to Conduct and Support Swiftwater Search and Rescue Missions in Hurricane Harvey’s Historic Aftermath
Swiftwater search and rescue teams representing the State of Tennessee will make their way toward southeast Texas this afternoon to conduct life-saving operations to help local authorities dealing with the unprecedented impact of Hurricane Harvey, now a tropical storm. “Tennessee and Texas have a long and storied connection and we are proud to help in […]
President Donald J. Trump Approves Texas And Louisiana Emergency Declaration
Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Harvey beginning on August 27, 2017, and continuing. The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency […]
Faulkenberry Elected as Chairman of Jefferson County Industrial Development Board
The Jefferson County Industrial Development Board met Friday for the first time since February, joined by guests Darrell Helton, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and Russell Turner of the County Commission. This meeting would also be the first to include two new members: Scott Faulkenberry, exiting Director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Agency, […]
Back-to-School: Smart Tips to Ease the Load of Kids’ Backpacks
As parents and caregivers prepare for the new school year, it’s important they ensure that kids have an appropriately sized backpack to help reduce their risk of common back, neck and shoulder pain and injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 12,900 individuals were treated in emergency rooms for backpack-related injuries […]
Rotavirus Vaccines Continue to Reduce Diarrhea Hospitalizations, Medical Costs in US Kids
Following the introduction of routine childhood vaccination against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrheal illness, more than 380,000 children avoided hospitalization for diarrhea from 2008 to 2013 in the U.S., thus saving an estimated $1.2 billion in direct medical costs. The estimates, from a new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases […]
Bohanan Reunited with Family After 11 Days
After spending 11 nights lost in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Austin Bohanan walked out of the woods along Panther Creek and flagged down a passing boat for help on August 23 at approximately 2:30 p.m. He was quickly reunited with his family who has gathered daily near the site since his […]
Mountain View Youth Development Center Update
DAVID SEAL JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 9 MOUNTAIN VIEW YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER UPDATE History Concerns about Mountain View were expressed earlier this year after the Department of Children’s Services announced plans to restructure the program in that facility. Those concerns focused on details of security changes, planned operation of the facility by a private contractor, […]
Is it Really “Just an Eclipse”?
One sentiment that’s made the social media and water cooler rounds lately has been, “it’s just an eclipse…” While millions anxiously awaited today’s celestial event, it seemed a sizable number of people were unimpressed by the prospect of a total solar eclipse. In 2017, we have more intricate knowledge of space than ever before. We […]
Team Continues Search for Missing Team
On Sunday, August 20, searchers continued looking for missing teen, Austin Bohanan, in a remote section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The searchers are working in three teams comprised of 24 trained individuals from the National Park Service, Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue (BUSAR), Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Blount Special Operations Response Team […]
